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Sunflower or BigBuddy

TruthWalleyes

By TruthWalleyes
in Ice Fishing

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TruthWalleyes Grand Master

TruthWalleyes

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Maybe everyone who have had problems with the buddy heaters post the year u had bought them and the size u bought. Its obvious they had problems or maybe they still do. Most products get the kinks worked out over time. Maybe this way people will know if they have taken care of the problems. I still see alot of misinformation on the hose-filter-quickcoupler with regulater posted, check their HSOforum for info. I bought a reg. buddy 2009 it has worked great. My dad has a sunflower that has worked for the last 15 years or so, time will tell with my heater.

I'd have to agree. My smaller buddy heater worked great, always...it was older, maybe 6yrs or so...

Just bought the Big Buddy, working great so far.

Many times in manufacturing there is a lot here and a lot there with factory defects...I do not believe all these people had trouble because they were'nt using it properly. Those that had problems, it would be interesting to hear what years they were purchased. It may not tell you much, becuase a purchase date is not a date of manufacture.

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TruthWalleyes Grand Master

TruthWalleyes

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Hey, TW please follow up with how you like it and if you have any issues.

I wouldn't mind getting rid of the hissing and humming, but not at the price of unreliability.

So far I've been impressed. Puts out a ton of heat, really quiet. Starts every time, and after saturday and sunday spending most the whole day in the house i didn't have to worry about headaches once....I'm guessing this is a good buy for you Dtro...But keep in mind, it will take up considerably more room in your sled. (just something to keep in mind)

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TruthWalleyes Grand Master

TruthWalleyes

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I have the Big Buddy, 12' quick disconnect hose w/regulator...and this piece of fine crazy craftmanship is getting returned for a sunflower heater!!

First 20lb tank ran flawlessly, until the bottom 1/8 of a tank on a cold night, the heater kept shutting off...

Replaced tank with a full 20lb tank... Same problems... and it wasn't even cold out this weekend.

As much as I liked the big Buddy when it ran good - It's not reliable...and i'm switching to a sunflower. 2c

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fishersofmen Grand Master

fishersofmen

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Wow that is quite the turnaround TruthWalleyes! Sorry for the bad experience......you almost had me converted. grin Had my flower out this weekend and it ran flawlessly for the thousandth time. Welcome to the dark side. smile

P.S They now include a bottle of Tylenol and some patches for the canvas with the flower! grin

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ozzie Grand Master

ozzie

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I just don't understand how so many people have problems with the Buddy heaters......I don't have any issues and the only time I have had an issue it was at the start of the season and all I had to do was replace the filter......

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TruthWalleyes Grand Master

TruthWalleyes

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I just don't understand how so many people have problems with the Buddy heaters......I don't have any issues and the only time I have had an issue it was at the start of the season and all I had to do was replace the filter......

I'm putting my money on a poor design for manufacturability...

LIkely there are some tight (unrealistic) specifications that are rarely met during the manufacturing process...that is probably why some have good big buddies and others have lemons! I would'nt think a heater would be that tough to build...but apparently they made these tough to build. frown

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jBohmer Community Regular

jBohmer

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The Dark Side grin

I could feel the heat through the computer.

About the whining, I had the same issue. I started a thread on it, search for "whining about sunflower heaters". What I learned was that basically it happens when it is still cold. I put my finger over one of the air vents on the back of the heater portion. This enriches the gas/oxygen mixture with more gas and heats it up real quick. I have to hold my finger there for a few seconds and it settles down. Careful though, I tend to burn some arm hair when I do it the lazy way. Just do not bend over it.

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Surreal Deal Community Regular

Surreal Deal

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I own both. I used a flower for years with not a single problem. It's probably one of the most reliable pieces of equipment that I've fished with over the years. However, it is also one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment that I've fished with over the years. Because I'm bringing my seven year old son nowadays, I picked up the Big Buddy this year, for safety reasons.

I had the same thoughts as nubote regarding using a rechargeable battery instead of burning through D's. Big C in Rogers sells a 6V rechargeable battery for $14.99 in their game feeder section. My float charger does both 6 and 12 volt, so no added expense there. I struck when they were on sale for $9.99, and by using a $10 off coupon that I received in the mail, I picked up my 6v rechargeable for $.64 after tax. wink

So far I'm very happy with the cleaner & quieter burn of the big buddy. I hope to get many trouble free years of service from it, but my flower is still there in case I ever need it.

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ozzie Grand Master

ozzie

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the thing is I have really lucked out then cause I have 3 (1 big and 2 reg) biddies and they all work great.....in fact the first one I bought that was a regular has taken one heck of a beating and fires right up even though I barely ever even use it!! Guess I am lucky with this brand of heaters

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Capt'nMorgan Collaborator

Capt'nMorgan

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I used a sunflower for years and is a good but loud and smelly heater, then I bought a buddy heater used it for 3 years with no problems and then bought a big buddy heater and have been useing it for 4 years and have not had any problems with any of them. when using a 20LB tank make sur that you use the filter on the line.

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